Safety device for mines.



No. 656,204; Patented Aug.` 2i, |900.

D. MCCDWAN.

SAFETY DEVICE'FOR MINES.

(Application med. mr. 29, 1900.) (No Model.)

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UNrrnn STATES y PATENT v Frrcn.

DUNCAN MCCOWAN, OF NEIHART, MONTANA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,204, dated August 21, 1900.

I Application filed March 29, 1900. Serial No. 10,317. (N0 model.)

T0 all whom/tt may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN McCowAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Neihart, Cascade county, State of Mon# lnore especially to safety devices used in connection therewith; and the object of the same is to produce an improved safety device for mines, to` prevent the accidental falling of the cross-heads, which so often results disastrously to the workmen beneath. It is well known that in sinking the mine it is customary as the work progresses to timber the sides of the shaft for the purpose of preventing a cave-in and to put in uprights to connect the timbers and to serve as guides for the elevator and cross-head. It is also well known that in lowering the latter by means of the bucket-rope the cross-head often sticks near the mouth ofthe mine, while the rope and bucket descend to the miners working beneath, and afterward the crosshead falls with a rush, so as to break through all supports and kill or maim the miners beneath. Means have been heretofore employed for indicating to the engineer when the weight of the cross-head was removed from the rope, although it will be understood that the latter still remained taut by reason of the bucket yet suspended thereby.- To the end of providing a cheap, simple, and effective safety device for successful use under these conditions, I have produced the present invention, which consists in the details of construction claimed below, the entire device being hereinafter set forth in such manner as to be clear to those skilled in the art, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mine, showing a descending bucket and cross-head provided with my safety device. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cross-head as resting on thesupports near the bottom of the mine and the bucket as yet descending. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of the adjustspreader-chains S, all as well understood in this art.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention, l0 10 are the two members of the clutch, each hung 011 its shaft`11 in a casting 12 at the lower end of the cross-head and sprung normallyinward bya spring 12'. Each clutch member is provided on its inner face with a half-socket 13, its lower end being beveled, as at 14, andthe bevel connected with the socket by a notch 15. From the back of this member leads a chain or cord 16, which passes over a pulley 17 in the cross-head and ,thence upward to a rod 18. The latter passes loosely through an eye 1-9 in the upper cro/ssbar, extends thence outward, as at 20, and thence downward through a hole 21 in the side bar of the cross-head, and normally protrudes, as at 22, in position to rest uponthe support 3. shown in the drawings, and the springs 12 cause the lower ends 22 of the rods 18 to protrude, and it is clear that when such ends are pushed upward by the supports the chains or cords 16 are drawn upon and the members of the clutch are opened.

In Fig. 4 is best seen the rope-clamp I preferably employ in connection with this clutch. It comprises a tubular body 30, with an enlarged and tapering head 31 at its upper end, forming an annular shoulder 32, the parts being so shaped that the shank of the body will tit in the notches 15 and the head will fit in the sockets 13 in the clutch members, and yet when the latter are turned outward on their pivots the head will be released. As before stated, the body is tubular, so thatthe rope 5 may pass therethrough. Its lower end is notched, as at 33, into lingers 34, exteriorly There are two of these ropes, as.

IOO

threaded for the reception of a nut 35, and when this is screwed onto the tapering ngers they are sprung inward and clamped upon the rope. By this means it will be clear that the entire rope-clamp can be set quickly on the rope at any desired position with relation to the bucket or can be removed therefrom at will.

In operation the cross-head and bucket are lowered, as shown in Fig. l, and when the protruding ends of the rods strike the supports the clutch members are opened and the bucket continues to descend, the engineer realizing by the reduced tension of the rope what has happened,but knowing by thelength of the rope paid out that the cross-head has reached the supports. In the same way if the tension should be reduced at any other time than when the rope was paid out to this eX- tent 11e would realize that the cross-head had stuck and would act accordingly. On the ascent of the rope the head of the clamp passes between the notches l5 and strikes the lower end of the lowermost eye 6 in the crosshead, and continued upward movement lifts the cross-head, which permits the clutch members to close.

All parts are of the desired sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials, and considerable change in the specific details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.

That I claim as new is l. In a safety device for mines, the combination with the guides, the cross-head moving thereon, the bucket rope passing loosely through the cross-head, and supports on the guides; of a clutch at the bottom of the crosshead, means for opening it when the crosshead engages the supports, a clamp below the clutch and adapted to be engaged by the same,v

and means for removably and adjustably attaching the clamp to the rope, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a safety device for mines, the combination with the guides, the cross-head mov- .ing thereon, the bucket-rope passing loosely through the cross-head, and supports on the guides; of a clutch at the bottom of the crosshead, means for opening it when the crosshead engages the supports, a clamp below the clutch and adapted to be engaged by the same, the body of the clamp being tubular to receive the rope and notched at its lower end to produce fingers, and a nut surrounding these fingers for securing the clamp adjustably on the rope, substantially as described.

3. In a safety device for mines, the combination with the guides, the cross-head moving thereon, the bucket rope passing loosely through the cross-head, and supports on the guides; of rods moving loosely in holes in the side bars of the cross-head and projecting at their lower ends below the same, their upper ends being bent inward, a clamp on the rope below the cross-head, a clutch on the crosshead for engaging said clamp, and connections between the members of the clutch and theinturned ends of said rods, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a safety device for mines, the combination with the guides, the cross-head moving thereon, the bucket rope passing loosely through the cross-head, and supports on the guides; of a clutch having spring-actuated members pivoted to the lower cross-bar on the cross-head, a rope-clamp which said members are adapted to engage, chains or cords leading from the members outward and over pulleys in said cross-bar, and rods extending from said chains or cords upward through the top cross-bar, thence outward, thence downward through holes in the side bars of the cross-head, and projecting below the latter so as to rest upon said supports, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 12th day of March, A. D. 1900.

DUNCAN MCCOVAN.

Witnesses:

RICHARD BENNETT, Jos. J. SCHWERDT. 

